Display-case.



H. C. BORMAN. DISPLAY CASE.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 21, 1909.

Patented 0013.4, 1910.

WTTEU elTATES PATENT @FFTQEG HERMAN C. BORMAN, OF METROPOLIS, ILLINOIS.

DISPLAY-CASE.

Application filed December 2l, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN C. BORMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Metropolis, in the county of Massac and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Ii'nprovements in Display-Cases, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in grocers bins or showcases and has for its object to provide a device of the above character which is of simple construction, may be inexpensively manufactured, of great utility and convenience in use, and strong, durable and ornamental.

A further object resides in the provision of means whereby the contents of the bin or case may be displayed without necessitating the opening of the case so that dust and dirt may enter, whereby the same is rendered unsanitary.

lith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, here inaft-er fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying` drawings in which Figure l is a perspective view of a display case or box embodying my improvements; Fig. is a vertical section thereof; Fig. 3 is a transvel.. section taten on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4t is a detailV perspective view of one of the glass-holding corner strips.

Referring to the drawings 5 indicates a substantially rectangular box or case. At the meeting edges of the front and sides of the case the reinforcing strips (S are secured. These strips are quadrant-shaped in cross section, as shown in Fig. 3 and securely hold the sides and front of the case in their proper associated relation. A similarly placed strip 7 is disposed exteriorly of the case and in opposed relation to the reinforcing or securing strips 6. The strips G and 7 have their vertices disposed adjacent to each other, the outer edge or periphery of the strips 7 providing rounded corners for the box or case. These strips 7 are formed upon opposite sides and at their outer corners with longitudinally extending grooves or recesses 8 which are adapted to receive and provide seats for the opposite vertical edges of the glass plates 9. Strips l0 are Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 9ct. d, i910.

Serial No. 534,344.

also secured to the rear vertical edge of the sides of the bor; and are likewise formed with the vertical groove S to receive the edge of the glass side plates. Thus it will be noted that the glass plates 9 and the sides and front of the box are spaced from each other, and this space so provided is adapted to be filled with the material to be displayed.

In order to retain the glass plates 9 in position on the edge strips, I provide the retaining members 11 and 12. The members 11 are disposed at the rear edges of the ease and are secured to the strips l0, projecting beyond the forward edge thereof to provide a flange between which and the strip the edge of the glass plate 9 is disposed. The retaining members 1Q at the front edges of the case are arcuate in cross section and secured to the quadrant-shaped strips by means of the screws 13, similar screws also securing the retaining members l1 to the rear spacing strips. The longitudinal edges of each of the retaining members is preferably disposed inwardly upon the surface of the glass plates to prevent the same from rattling or being removed from between the strips and the retaining members. A. metallic band 14 is also secured to the bottom 15 of the case and projects above the same, thereby providing a circumscribing flange which further serves to prevent outward movement of the glass plates and enhances the attractive appearance of the case.

The case is preferably provided wit-h a top 1G which is permanently secured on the case by means of the screws 16 and carries a sheet metal edge plate 17 similar to the plate 14 secured to the bottom of the case. This edge plate extends considerably below the top and is disposed over the corner retaining members when in closed position, thereby forming an effective closure and preventing an entrance of dust, dirt and all foreign matter to the interior of the case. I preferably provide the case with the interior inclined feed plate 1S which extends from the back thereof to a point intermediate of the front and back and is adapted to discharge the material poured into the case into the bottom thereof, whereby the entire contents of the bin will be continuously fed into the front portion thereof. This is rendered necessary owing to the fact that a hinged door 1,9 is provided in the back of the case by means of which access is had thereto. By

providing this door the removal of the top of the case when itis desired to remove part of the contents is rendered unnecessary thereby maintaining an absolutely sanitary condition at all times. The door may be held in closed position by means of a hook 20 pivoted to the back of the case and adapted to engage in it an eye.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the strips 6 and 8 may be securely fastened together by means of the bolts 2l extending therethrough. rIhe head of the bolt being countersunk in the outer face of the exterior strip S, said bolts extending entirely through the inner strips and having the nuts 22 threaded upon their inner ends by means of which the strips may be securely held in their proper positions with relation to each other. One oi' more of such fastening bolts may be provided as desired.

In the use of my improved display case7 the material is adapted to be disposed between the glass plates and the sides and front of the case. This material may either be the same as that contained in the case, or it may be of several different varieties. For inst-ance, coffee and tea may be displayed on the sides of the case, while cereals are displayed from the front thereof. Any other combination of goods may be displayed in the case and when but one variety is shown the eifect of an entirely full box or case will be obtained7 the metal edge strips 14 and 1T secured to the top and bottom of the case preventing the observer from seeing the sides or bottom thereof.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a display case especially adapted for the use of groccrs which is of simple construction, may be manufactured at 1a low cost and is of great utility and effectiveness in use. Vhile I have shown and described what I believe to be the preferred embodiment of the invention. it will be obvious that the case may also be made in various other forms without materially departing from the essential features or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus desciibed the invention what is claimed is:

l. A display-case of the character described comprising a casing, corner strips at the meeting edges of the front and sides of the casing, said strips being positioned within the casing walls, exterior strips arranged in opposed relation to the first named strips7 boltsI extending entirely through each pair of corner strips having nuts on their inner ends, whereby said strips are rigidly connected together, vertical strips secured to the rear edges of said casing, glass plates seated in grooves in said strips and spaced from the casing wall to provide a display compartment, a cover permanently secured on said case, and means carried by the case and cover for retaining the glass plates in the grooves of said strips.

2. A display-case of the character described comprising a substantially rectangular casing, vertical strips arranged in each of the corners of the casing, said strips having vertical grooves therein, glass plates seated in said grooves and spaced from the casing walls7 a cover permanently secured on said casing, flanges secured to the edge of the cover and to the edgel of the bottom of the case, said flanges extending upon the glass plates to retain the same in the grooves of said corner strips, a feed plate arranged within said case, and a hinged door in the back of said case below the feed plate.

3. A display case of the character described comprising a substantially rectan guiar casing having interior and 'exterior quadrant-shaped strips arranged at its front corners, said strips having their vertices opposed, said exterior strips thereby forming rounded corners for said case, bolts extending through said strips having nuts threaded upon their inner ends to rigidly secure the same together, vertical strips cured to the rear meeting edges of the sides and bach of the case, longitudinal grooves in each of said front and rear strips. transparent plates seated in said grooves. means carried by the strips for retaining the plates in the grooves. a cover permanently secured on the top of said case, a flange secured to the cover and to the bottom of the case extending upon said transparent plates, a feed plate ar -anged within said case, and a hinged door in the bach of said case below the feed plate.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atlix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HERMAN. C. BORMAN. llvitnesses THOMAS KEANE, C. SHINKARD. 

